New research shows that more people are dying from cold weather. Death caused by cold weather has been happening across the country over the past few years. Experts say it happens because people are exposed to cold despite rising average temperatures.

Death rates related to cold have significantly increased recently. Between 1999 and 2022, deaths caused by cold nearly doubled. For example, 2,571 people died because of cold in 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Michael Liu, a student at Harvard University, stated that cold-linked deaths are a public health issue in the U.S. right now. Given that the temperature in the U.S. rose by 4 degrees compared to 50 years ago, it might seem like the number of cold-related deaths would decrease, but the increase in temperature in the U.S. has caused more extreme cold weather in certain areas.

Cold weather can cause negative impacts on personal health, including low body temperature and frostbite, which can negatively affect important organs and lead to fatal outcomes. Research shows that people over 75 years old are more vulnerable to cold weather and have a higher rate of death, mainly due to the decline in the body’s immune system with age. Other diseases might also contribute to this issue. Additional factors that could lead to an increase in the death rate include rising homelessness, social isolation, and drug abuse, said Dr. Neha Raukar, an emergency room doctor at Mayo Clinic. People without shelter are more exposed to cold weather than those with a warm place to keep them away from cold weather outside.

The rise in cold-related deaths highlights the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations and address factors like homelessness and extreme weather.